Posted on 07/26/2004 6:50:04 PM PDT by tomball
KENNEWICK, Wash. - Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) on Monday accused Senate Democrats — including John Kerry (news - web sites) and John Edwards (news - web sites) — of "outrageous" behavior for blocking President Bush (news - web sites)'s judicial nominees.
Cheney's jab at the Democratic presidential ticket came in an otherwise low-key appearance at a fund-raising luncheon for Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi, a former state senator.
For the most part, Cheney used his half-hour appearance before the GOP crowd to laud the Bush administration's record, especially on the economy and the war on terrorism.
"What this president has accomplished in 3 1/2 years is remarkable, but the danger has not passed. The threat remains," Cheney said. "And in the time ahead, we need the same steadfast presidential leadership."
The vice president mentioned Kerry, who is being nominated for president this week at the Democratic National Convention, only once, when he denounced Democratic senators for using filibuster tactics to block 10 of Bush's judicial appointments they regard as too conservative.
In particular, Cheney signaled out the Senate's refusal to allow a vote on the nomination of William Myers of the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (news - web sites), which has been called the nation's most liberal court. In June 2002, the 9th Circuit declared that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools unconstitutional because the words "under God" amount to an endorsement of religion.
The president has defended "our fundamental rights and values," including the pledge, Cheney said. "Looks to me like the 9th Circuit could use some new judges," he said to applause.
Liberals criticize Myers' opposition to environmental protections when he was Interior Department solicitor, 2001-2003, and his work as a private lawyer and lobbyist for cattle and mining interests.
Conservatives say he is highly qualified, has bipartisan backing and would bring needed balance to the 9th Circuit.
"What the Democrats in the Senate are doing is simply outrageous," Cheney said.
With Bush at his Texas ranch, Cheney traveled to a state where both sides are campaigning hard. In 2000, Washington voters favored Al Gore (news - web sites) over George W. Bush by more than 100,000 votes. The state last elected a Republican governor in 1980.
"It's been a long time since you've had a Republican governor, but I have a feeling your wait is coming to an end," Cheney said.
Don't bring the Assault Gun Ban up for a vote unless they hold an up or dow vote on Bush's judges.
Amen.
Sounds like a plan. I wonder if there are any Republican senators with ideas like that.
I could only hope Cheney means to setting up the gallows.
It doesn't get any better.
Damn right he could be President!!
Cheney was my first choice with Rummy as Veep. As it turns out, W is still holding his Team together.
Now on a different channel 'MoronF911,' Doofus-Dork is inviting Jacques Strap, GepHard ShroedHer and Little Putin for talks in the Oral Office.
Film at eleven with Steinmeister's video-cam.
Bravo, Mr. Vice President.
In 2002, I departed from my usual third-party voting pattern to vote Republican in a Senate race, to do what I could to help the Pubs gain a majority so as to get these nominees brought to a vote. They got the majority, then -- nothing. Add to that, the profligate spending worthy of the most leftist Democrats, and I'll not likely be making that same mistake again. What's the use -- they have no courage and will not stand up for qualified constructionist men and women.
So why is Cheney doing the heay lifting by himself? Where's the rest of the Republican senators - why aren't they doing something about this crap? I'm sick of whining and moaning about this stuff? They run all 3 branches of govt. When are these cowards going to do something? I say shut down the govt until we see hearings. Shut the whole place down. They aren't doing anything anyway except running up a $450B deficit anyway. I'm fed up with all of them including Bush. Cheney is the only one with any balls.
Don't bring the Assault Gun Ban up for a vote unless they hold an up or dow vote on Bush's judges.Damned good idea! The RATS would never go for it though.
I suspect President Bush is holding off on the nu-cle-ar option until he needs go get someone on the SCOTUS.
Abortion Docs Don't Have to Report Statutory Rape Court Rules
LifeSite Daily News Tuesday July 27, 2004
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/jul/04072702.html
WICHITA, Kansas, July 27, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In a decision handed down Monday, a federal judge ruled that abortionists are not required to comply with a law requiring the reporting of sexual abuse or rape of minors to authorities.
U.S. District Judge J. Thomas Marten argued that most underage sex is consensual, thus a mandatory reporting of all underage sexual activity would constitute an invasion of privacy. He also reasoned that mandatory reporting would deter minors from seeking abortions out of fear of the abusive relationship being exposed.
Although the several media reports lead readers to think all underage reporting is of consensual acts, Marten's decision means that doctors committing abortions on child victims of abuse or underage rape victims would be exempt from reporting these crimes.
The suit began in November, when Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline filed a defense on behalf of two Kansas county and district attorneys who were sued to prevent them from enforcing the 1982 state law requiring the reporting of abuse of children 15 years of age and under to authorities.
The plaintiffs in the case, New York-based abortion provider Aid for Women sought to prevent the enforcement of the long-standing policy, speculating that the potential harm caused by the reporting would chill the right of minors to seek 'medical care', and that that outweighed the state's interest in preventing child abuse through reporting.
"Abused children will say what their abusers tell them to say," Attorney General Kline said in his brief filed late last year. "We have a responsibility to do everything necessary to make sure that we protect our children, and that starts with the notification of the appropriate authorities when even the possibility of abuse exists."
In a sworn affidavit, Dr. Gary Yarbrough, a Parsons physician, agreed with Kline, adding that minors are frequently not honest about their sexual histories, and about physical, emotional, or sexual abuse in particular.
"Abuse to a minor, including sexual abuse, can lead to devastating consequences in the short term and lifelong," Dr. Yarbrough said. "Minors in abusive relationships will frequently lie about the relationship, saying that it is not abusive. Because it is so difficult to tell if a minor is truthfully describing the nature of a relationship, sexual or otherwise, I believe that to protect minors under the age of 16, it is important to report for further investigation all instances of sexual intercourse of minors under age 16 even if described as voluntary."
(c) Copyright: LifeSite Daily News is a production of Interim Publishing. Permission to republish is granted (with limitation*) but acknowledgement of source is *REQUIRED* (use LifeSiteNews.com).
NEWS TIPS to lsn@lifesite.net or call 1-866-787-9947 or (416) 204-1687 ext. 444
Kansas Loses Ruling on Reporting of Underage Sex
NewsMax.com Wires
Monday, July 26, 2004
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/7/26/162526.shtml
WICHITA, Kan. – A federal judge ruled Monday that doctors, nurses and other health care professionals in Kansas cannot be forced to report instances of underage sex to authorities.
U.S. District Judge J. Thomas Marten issued a preliminary injunction blocking Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline's interpretation of a state law.
Sex involving someone under 16 is illegal in Kansas, even if it involves willing same-age partners. Last July, Kline said the 1982 law requires doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, social workers and others to report such illegal underage sex to law enforcement officials or the state.
Kline said such reporting is required because underage sex inherently involves abuse of a child.
Center for Reproductive Rights, a New York advocacy group, argued that such a requirement would discourages young people from seeking counseling or medical treatment, including abortions.
The judge, siding with the advocacy group, said, "The court is convinced even a limited breach of confidentiality concerning such unique and intimate information could have large implications for the well-being of minors."
© 2004 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Story last updated at 7:27 a.m. Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Federal Judge rules state has no compelling interest to monitor sex abuse
Attorney General's opinion regarding statutory rape reporting nixed
- Editorial Note: See for yourself how Planned Parenthood profits from the child predator protection racket!
Kansas judge says doctors cannot be forced to report underage sex
By ROXANA HEGEMAN
Associated Press Writer
WICHITA - A federal judge ruled Monday that doctors, nurses and other health care professionals in Kansas cannot be forced to report instances of underage sex to authorities.
U.S. District Judge J. Thomas Marten issued a preliminary injunction barring Kansas officials from enforcing provisions in a state law that, according to Attorney General Phill Kline, requires health care professionals to report underage sexual activity.
Marten wrote in his ruling the court was hesitant to sanction Kline's "monumental change in policy" given its imposition on the privacy rights of minors.
"The court is convinced even a limited breach of confidentiality concerning such unique and intimate information could have large implications for the well-being of minors," Marten wrote.
At the same time, Marten also said in his ruling that Kline's opinion last year actually clarified the reporting statute and provided fair notice of when reporting is required.
"I don't see this as having anything to do with the attorney general opinion other than the attorney general opinion further clarifying the reporting statute in the mind of the judge," said Eric Rucker, a senior deputy attorney general. "He didn't strike down the AG opinion."
Sex involving someone under 16 is illegal in Kansas, even if it involves willing same-age partners. Last July, Kline issued an opinion on the state's 1982 reporting statue, which he said requires doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, social workers and others to report such illegal underage sex to law enforcement officials or the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.
Kline said such reporting is required by the law because such sex inherently involves abuse of a child. His opinion differed from one issued in 1992 by one of his predecessors, Robert Stephan, who said health care professionals have some discretion in whether they report sexual activity.
"The court is also struck by the magnitude of the change in policies outlined in the 2003 advisory opinion," Marten wrote. "It is persuasive that the parties operated under the 1992 advisory opinion for a substantial period of time without discernible problems."
I want to see it. We would still be talking about it years from now.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.